What is a photograph?
A photograph is but an expression of the inner workings of our thoughts and emotions. When one's deep thoughts are steeped in philosophical inquiry, the resulting images bear the imprint of those profound reflections. Thus, each photograph becomes a medium through which our philosophical musings find outward expression, shaping the very essence of our storytelling.
Although I began my journey in photography in 2010 traversing across various forms and genres, I took to creative and fine art forms in 2017 during my Bharatpur tour and moved to shooting black and white in 2020. My personal experiences played a pivotal role in this transformation.
As a photographer, I see contradiction in each of my observations.
I believe that it is like the zone system developed by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer from "Pure Black - Grey - Pure White". It oscillates between the two extremes.
Black and white photography for me is like the Kannada song "Vedanti heLidanu" written by Rashtrakavi G S Shivarudrappa for a Kannada movie Manasa Sarovara. The lyrics go something like this...
ವೇದಾಂತಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು ಹೊನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಮಣ್ಣು ಮಣ್ಣು ಕವಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಹಾಡಿದನು ಮಣ್ಣೆಲ್ಲ ಹೊನ್ನು ಹೊನ್ನು ವೇದಾಂತಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು ಹೊನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಮಣ್ಣು ಮಣ್ಣು ಕವಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಹಾಡಿದನು ಮಣ್ಣೆಲ್ಲ ಹೊನ್ನು ಹೊನ್ನು
ವೇದಾಂತಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು ಈ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮಾಯೆ ಮಾಯೆ ಕವಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಕನವರಿಸಿದನು ಹೂ ಇವಳೇ ಚೆಲುವೆ ಇವಳ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾ ಸ್ವರ್ಗವನೆ ಗೆಲ್ಲುವೆ ಸ್ವರ್ಗವನೆ ಗೆಲ್ಲುವೆ
ವೇದಾಂತಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು ಹೊನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಮಣ್ಣು ಮಣ್ಣು ಕವಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಹಾಡಿದನು ಮಣ್ಣೆಲ್ಲ ಹೊನ್ನು ಹೊನ್ನು
ವೇದಾಂತಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು ಈ ಬದುಕು ಶೂನ್ಯ ಶೂನ್ಯ ಕವಿ ನಿಂತು ಸಾರಿದನು ಓ ಇದು ಅಲ್ಲ ಶೂನ್ಯ ಜನ್ಮ ಜನ್ಮದಿ ಸವಿದೆ ನಾನೆಷ್ಟು ಧನ್ಯ ನಾನೆಷ್ಟು ಧನ್ಯ
ವೇದಾಂತಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು ಹೊನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಮಣ್ಣು ಮಣ್ಣು ಕವಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಹಾಡಿದನು ಮಣ್ಣೆಲ್ಲ ಹೊನ್ನು ಹೊನ್ನು
| Vedanti proclaimed, "In each dust speck, the essence of gold, an alchemy of dust begetting dust." A poet intoned, "Earth's particles resonate with gold's purity, an unfolding refinement."
Vedanti declared, "This woman embodies Maya, an intricate illusion upon illusion." A bard envisioned, "She, a vine of flowers, the essence of existence. With her, I conquer celestial realms, transcending Maya's illusions."
Vedanti asserted, "Dust transmutes to gold, an alchemical metamorphosis, dust upon dust." A poet harmonized, "The entire earth manifests as pure gold, a revelation unfolding particle by particle."
Vedanti pondered, "Life, at its core, is void upon void." The poet stood resolute, "Nay, not void. Across lifetimes, I relish profound blessings. How fortunate I am."
Vedanti reiterated, "Dust metamorphoses to gold, an alchemical transformation, dust upon dust." A poet echoed, "Every inch of earth glistens as pure gold, particle by particle." |
How is it different from other forms?
It eliminates the visual dominance of color. As Ansel Adams quotes “In black and white, you suggest; in color, you state. Much can be implied by suggestion, but statement demands certainty... absolute certainty."
The monochrome photograph is timeless.
It brings attention to the content and can help bring more drama to the image.
It is away from the conventional color images, it is like a departure from reality since we see in color every day.
It helps add mystery and helps in creating an abstract visual entity.
My black-and-white photography expressions aim to have fewer visual cues but are more open to interpretation. For me, the art of photography is an original creation and is not repeatable. Not visually bound and closed. visually open for the senses. It has to be open for interpretation with a subjective view.
Change in perspective is...
Just as our perspectives change and evolve, so does photography...
Examining an image that has gracefully aged, it must mature in the viewer's mind—subtle, authentic, not constrained by a fixed meaning (yet not devoid of significance).
I contend that following the repeatable steps also results in "repeatable artistic appeal," which, in my opinion, does not constitute true art. The photo captured by the camera serves as a starting point, and the outcome is a "derivative" of the original photograph.
I strive to maintain a contrarian perspective, avoiding sticking to a set template, whether in my approach to photography or in post-processing.
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